[Updated at 10:30 p.m. ET] A man who helped subdue the gunman in Saturday's Arizona shooting spree said the man was trying to reload when he was tackled to the ground.

"He was ready for war. He was not playing around," Joe Zamudio told CNN. "He was going to keep shooting. It was not over. He had just ran out of bullets."

The gun, which another bystander had wrestled from the gunman, was empty and cocked open, and the shooter had another magazine at the ready, Zamudio said.

Zamudio pinned him to the ground until police showed up. The suspect, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, is in custody of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, and authorities are obtaining search warrants for a residence and his vehicle. Authorities also are seeking a person of interest but his suspected connection to the incident is unclear.

Loughner is accused of shooting 18 people, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a third-term Democrat who had organized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet and greet. Authorities believe the gunman had specifically targeted Giffords. She is in critical condition after undergoing surgery for a single gunshot wound to the head, but doctors said they are optimistic over her prospects for recovery.

Eleven others were wounded in the shooting and six are dead, among them U.S. District Court Judge John Rolls, a friend of Giffords' who had stopped by the event to say hello after attending Mass, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said.

The shooting sent shock waves through Washington, where Giffords was regarded as gracious and kind, a moderate Democrat known for her dedication to her constituents and willingness to work across party lines.

In light of the shootings, all legislation on the House schedule for the coming week has been postponed, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced in a statement.

"This has not become the nice United States of America that most of us grew up in and I think its time we do the soul-searching," he said.

"The anger, the hatred the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous and unfortunately, Arizona has become the capital. We have become the mecca of prejudice and bigotry."

[Updated at 10:00 p.m. ET] A House vote scheduled for Monday on whether to repeal health care legislation has been postponed after Saturday's shooting.

All legislation on the House schedule for the coming week has been postponed in a decision by leaders of both political parties in the House so "we can take whatever actions may be necessary in light of today's tragedy," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said in a statement.

[Updated at 8:55 p.m. ET] A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation says the Glock model 19 used in the shootings was purchased legally. The official did not have details at this time as to when and where the gun was purchased.

The gun was loaded with a 30-round magazine. The official said it is likely the extended magazine used in the shooting was purchased separately and at a different time. The official said such a magazine does not automatically come with a weapons purchase and that it would be extremely rare for them to be sold together in one purchase.

The official said the suspect had purchased another gun a few years ago but this person did not know the details about what happened to that weapon and if the alleged shooter still owned it.

Law enforcement is actively searching for a "person of interest" who is a white male in his 50s believed to have assisted the suspect in a shooting, Dupnik said.

A suspect who Dupnik would not name is in the custody of the Pima County Sheriff's Office, he said. The suspect has had previous contact with law enforcement "regarding threats" to kill, Dupnik said, and described him as having a "troubled past."

"There's reason to believe this individual has a mental issue and I think that people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol," he said.

"Vitriol" in public debate was a recurring theme in Dupnik's remarks as he blasted the media for "the vitriolic rhetoric" heard on television and radio.

[Updated at 7:57 p.m. ET] Gabe Zimmerman, director of community outreach for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, was among those killed in Saturday's shooting at a constituents meeting outside a Tucson Safeway, Gifford press secretary CJ Karamargin said.

Zimmerman was the staff member who set up today’s event in Giffords’ district, Karamargin said. The Tucson native was engaged to be married.

[Updated at 7:43 p.m. ET] The Army said in a statement that the suspect in the shooting was never in the Army.

"He attempted to enlist in the Army but was rejected for service. In accordance with the Privacy Act, we will not discuss why he was rejected," the Army said in a statement.

[Updated at 7:21 p.m. ET] Jared Lee Loughner, the suspect, had a limited presence on social-media sites, including YouTube and MySpace. Here's a sampling of some of the messages that CNN found on Loughner's pages:

[Updated at 7:12 p.m. ET] The University of Arizona's men's basketball game against Stanford University has been postponed following the shootings.

"The University feels the game should be delayed with deep respect to the victims and families impacted by this tragedy," Arizona athletics director Greg Byrne said.

The game will be played at 12:30 p.m. MST Sunday.

[Updated at 6:48 p.m. ET] Saturday's deadly shootings at an Arizona constituency meeting outside a Tucson Safeway appear to have “no nexus to terrorism," a law enforcement official said.

This official did not know if there had been any recent threat against Rep Giffords but said there are frequent threats to various members of Congress, mostly via phone calls or e-mails, or mailed threats.

[Updated at 6:30 p.m. ET] U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts released this statement on the death of U.S. District Court Chief Judge John Roll, who was killed in the shootings:

"Chief Judge John Roll was a wise jurist who selflessly served Arizona and the nation with great distinction, as attorney and judge, for more than 35 years. I express my deepest condolences to his wife Maureen and his children, as well as the other victims and their families. Chief Judge Roll’s death is a somber reminder of the importance of the rule of law and the sacrifices of those who work to secure it."

[Updated at 6:16 p.m. ET] The Tea Party released this statement regarding the shootings:

“We at the Tea Party Express are shocked and saddened to hear about the terrible tragedy that took place in Tucson today. It is appalling that anyone would commit such unthinkable violence against Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, her staff, a sitting federal judge and the many other victims and families impacted.

"These heinous crimes have no place in America, and they are especially grievous when committed against our elected officials. Spirited debate is desirable in our country, but it only should be the clash of ideas. An attack on anyone for political purposes, if that was a factor in this shooting, is an attack on the democratic process. We join with everyone in vociferously condemning it."

[Updated at 5:41 p.m. ET] ﻿﻿﻿Who is Gabrielle Giffords? She's a Democrat who was first elected in 2006. She has served as chairwoman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee and also holds seats on the House Science and Technology and Armed Services committees.

She won her third term in a closely contested race against a Tea Party-sponsored candidate and was one of three Democratic legislators who reported vandalism at their offices following the March vote on health care reform.

She is married to Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, a NASA astronaut who is scheduled to lead a space shuttle mission to the International Space Station. The two married in 2007, after meeting four years prior in China, as young leaders selected by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Giffords told the New York Times in her wedding announcement.

The article described their courtship as a drawn-out affair between two deeply committed civic servants who slowly found their way to each other. When they met, Giffords was seeing someone and Kelly was married.

After Giffords split from her boyfriend, she invited Kelly to join her on a tour of the Arizona State Prison in Florence.

"I’d been working on legislation dealing with capital punishment. Mark is the son of police officers — well, he just really wanted to sit in ‘the chair,' " she told the newspaper.

The two married three years later, they married at an organic produce farm in Amado, Arizona, called Agua Linda. An avid recycler, Giffords wore a Vera Wang gown borrowed from a friend.

"To a bride who moves at a velocity that exceeds that of anyone else in Washington, and a groom who moves at a velocity that exceeds 17,000 miles per hour," a wedding guest said in a toast to the couple.

"I am just heartbroken. Gabby (Giffords) is more than just a colleague she is a friend. She has always been a noble public servant," an emotional Brewer said, pausing for composure.

"I ask the people of Arizona and the people of America to keep the victims and their families in their prayers, and pray for their recovery and pray that in Arizona we never have to experience a tragedy like this ever again."

Giffords publicized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet-up at the Safeway in her southern Arizona district on her Twitter account.

Judge John Roll, the chief judge on the U.S. District Court for Arizona, was among 6 people killed, along with a 9-year-old girl, officials said.

Witnesses said the gunman shot Giffords at point blank range through the head and then continued firing. The suspect, identified by law enforcement sources as Jared Lee Loughner, has been taken into custody.

[Updated at 4:52 p.m. ET] Chief Judge John Roll was among 6 people killed at an Arizona constituent meeting outside a Tucson grocery store Saturday.

[Updated at 4:30 p.m. ET] The suspect in a shooting at an Arizona constituent meeting outside a Tucson grocery story is a white male born in 1988, CNN's Jeanne Meserve has confirmed from a federal law enforcement source.

Six people have died, including a 9-year-old girl, and 12 were injured, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, authorities said.

[Updated at 4:07 p.m. ET] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is in critical condition and a young child has died after a shooting at a political meeting at an Arizona grocery store, a hospital spokesman said Saturday.

Giffords, who was hosting the event, is under anesthesia after undergoing surgery for a single gunshot wound to the head "through and through," said Dr. Peter Rhee, Trauma Director at the University Medical Center in Tucson.

"The Congresswoman is not deceased. She is in critical condition," Rhee said in a press conference. "I am very optimistic about recovery."

Giffords publicized the "Congress on Your Corner" meet-up at the Safeway in her southern Arizona district on her Twitter account.

[Updated at 3:40 p.m. ET] Six people have died and 12 - including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - were injured in a shooting at a political meeting at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store Saturday, according to Rick Kastigar of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

[Updated at 3:20 p.m. ET] A suspect is in custody in the shootings of at least 12 people, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, at a constituent meeting at an Arizona grocery store, the U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.

"The suspect is in custody. No further details on the motive or other victims are available at this time," the statement said. "The U.S. Capitol Police are directly involved in this investigation. As more information is developed, it will be provided. In the interim, all Members and staff are advised to take reasonable and prudent precautions regarding their personal security."

A statement from President Obama confirmed that some people had died.

"This morning, in an unspeakable tragedy, a number of Americans were shot in Tucson, Arizona, at a constituent meeting with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. And while we are continuing to receive information, we know that some have passed away, and that Representative Giffords is gravely wounded," he said.

"We do not yet have all the answers. What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society. I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Representative Giffords, the victims of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers."

[Updated at 3:00 p.m. ET] Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is currently undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound to the head, a spokeswoman for the University Medical Center in Tucson said.

Nine patients were brought to the hospital, including a child. All of them are in either serious or critical condition and are undergoing surgery, spokeswoman Darci Slaten said.

A federal judge was also among those shot, a law enforcement official said. It is not clear whether he was among those taken to the hospital.

[Updated at 2:43 p.m. ET] There were conflicting reports Saturday about the condition of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords following a shooting Saturday at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store. Giffords' press secretary said the congresswoman remains in surgery for her injuries, disputing an earlier report from a law enforcement source saying she had died.

[Updated at 2:23 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords died Saturday after a gunman opened fire at a Tucson, Arizona grocery store, a law enforcement source said. Giffords, who had been holding a meeting with constituents, was among at least 12 people shot.

[Updated at 1:51 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was among at least 12 people shot at a Tucson, Arizona, grocery store, a Democratic source told CNN's Dana Bash. The source called her injuries "pretty serious."

[Updated at 1:41 p.m. ET] U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was meeting with constituents at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson, Arizona, where at least 12 people were injured in a shooting shortly after 10 a.m. MST Saturday, a spokesman for the Pima County sheriff's Department said. It is unclear whether Giffords was among those hurt.

"Several" people were shot Saturday at a grocery store in Tucson,
Arizona, a spokesman for the Pima County Sheriff's Department said. No other details were immediately available.

Judge John Roll was a wonderful man. He was a very good mentor to young lawyers, a polite, gentleman-like jurist and kind to everyone in his court. Years ago I had jury duty in his court. As a lawyer, being called for jury duty is a waste of time because you know that sooner or later you will be struck from the panel. No attorney wants another attorney on the jury. I had to keep standing up and answering "yes" to the standard questions because I had law enforcement experience, legal training and had worked in another office with the prosecutor who was trying the case. At the end of the day Judge Roll asked the jurors to look around and see if they knew anyone else on the jury panel. A young man raised his hand and said, "I think I used to date that girl" (indicating me). When Judge Roll asked me if I knew the other juror, I looked him like a deer in headlights and shrugged my shoulders. The man then said, "I think we only went out once or twice." Judge Roll, quick on his feet with something that would make everyone feel better, said, "don't worry sir, there have been women on the jury panel I took out more than twice... and they did not recognize me either!" Not true, of course, since he was married for years, but just his way of smoothing over an awkward situation.

Sarah Palin is disgusting. I'm going to pray to God tonight for her and her family's death. This is ridiculous incitement of political hate gone disturbingly wrong - and everything Palin wanted as well. RIP Judge Roll and Sarah Palin, hope you die a painful death...

Vince. You have jealousy issues and should see a counselor soon. Your obvious inadequecy as a man means you might want to have your penis removed also and get breast implants. But do not get the same size as Sarah Palin. That would not be healthy.
Gwyneth Paltrow's are very very nice.
jim

Do you realize Vince, you are exactly what you claim to despise. Criticizing someone for incitement in the same breath you assert you will be praying for the death of an entire family is not only oxymoronic, not only idiotic, it is also blasphemous.

My prayers have to been to the killed, the injured, and their families. Maybe I should add you to the list – obviously you need them.

One man turned this planet upside down. Buckle your seat belt America; turbulence is coming our way just like it has through third world countries. It still baffles me that 55 million stupid people voted for him the second time around...

It took about eight hour for the news media to mention the name of the gunman, why? because he was white. If he had been black or hispanic, they would have mention it every time they would take a breath. what a bunch of racist.

I agree with you, and what is making me more upset is that they aren't discussing those that died, showing their names or pictures, to have breaking news like this throughout the day and to keep showing the Congresswoman ( who I am praying survives and is ok ) just doesn't seem right

...This congressperson was singled out by the gunman because she is female. ..... So what does CNN do? ...Bring out a WHITE MALE to anchor the story...Wolf Blitzer was RUDELY AWOKEN from his weekend nap to news-read reports that so-called newspeople in the CNN "newsroom" are ripping off the internet, a "job" anyone could do for minimum wage....."She 's fine...She's going to be ok." I..Yeah, ok when you're shot in the face & the brain. Right. ..The truth is, it's just too much for the white male dominated media to admit that men are out to – – not just yell at or scream at – – but KILLl women who disagree with them, who don't fit the uneducated, unenlightened Sarah Palin mold they idolize, both consciously & unconsciously......Also notice how Wolf didn't come onto the scene till about 3 hours after the shooting spree. As I recall, CBS acted the same way with the fatal Princess Diana crash. Not bothering to do any coverage till a few hours had passed because she was a female life you're talking about, & therefore of lesser interest, of lesser value.

This is what happen when gulible people listen to what they hear on conversative talk radio and tv show (you know who I'm talking about and who I'm talking to). I do not understand those who defends the action of this 22 year old who killed among those he doesn't like, a 9 year old? This kid does not deserve the death penalty, he should be made to suffer in prison for the rest of his idiotic life.

Nothing more need be said. Let Mrs. Palin's blog speak for itself. Left, right or center it is time to recognize how dangerous this woman is to our nation. To all of the victims and their families, please know that our hearts go out to you.
http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2011/01/palins_gun_targ/

you guys are all wrong. according to his facebook page the shooter was a fan of obama and hated conservatives. he shot someone he thought was a republican. just goes to show you, some people should not have guns.
also, a young girl was killed, a federal judge was killed and many people and their families are affected. stop ranting like fools now.

No matter how hard the Left and media (redundancy alert!) try to spin this as a Tea Party attack, no Tea Party supporter agrees with either Mein Kampf or the Communist Manifesto. Those two books belong on a shelf with the ravings of William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, and other anti-American writers favored by the current White House and the Left (redundancy alert!), not those who support the Tea Party. 22-year old anarchists who “favorite” flag burning, the Communist Manifesto, and Mein Kampf are not part of the Tea Party. The link below contains verification: " Here’s a screengrab of CaitieParker’s Twitter acccount. She’s been talking about Jared Lee Loughner and his Leftist political views. The guy was clearly a Leftist Democrat who hated conservatives, and especially conservative Democrats like Gabrielle Giffords.

Palin is a poor excuse for a "Human Being" and unfortunately there are those that think she is brilliant. She is a disgrace to this country and should not be allowed to participate in the Government in any way. Her ideologies and her actions are nothing short of being a terrorist!! She is one sick individual and is setting this country on a very dangerous course!!

Some of the Republicans have commented that there were "kill Bush" sign during his administration. There is a huge difference here. No Democratic leaders have ever said those things. On the Republican side, Sara Palin is the past VP candidate and leading candidate for the 2012 election. Rush and Glen are in the mainstream of Republicans. Those Republican leaders give those "unstable" people reasons to act.

You are 100% right. The loss of civility–with attacks, not constructive ideas–has gone WAY too far. This was bound to happen. How said that a 9 year old girl–among others–got caught in the crossfire. Vitriol doesn't solve anything; it just inflames those who do not have the mental capacity to sort it out or put it in context. Palin's incrediblly weak statement shows that the neural disconnect is still there; she lost her soul a long time ago to money and power. Running this country is a team situation; Palin is infatuated with the letter I –which is not in team.

Are we going to learn who those are that died? Their names? Photos? I'm certainly praying for our Congresswoman and all families involved but to have breaking news about this story throughout the day and not show names and/or photos of those that passed is not right, it's just wrong, report the news and report it all CNN and all other news stations that are covering this as it unfolds

I agree. Are the reporters telling us that the others who were killed or wounded are not important because they're not politicians? Are the reporters telling us that they don't believe that anyone would care about the others? I know that the congresswoman's husband is an astronaut but I don't know if any of the other wounded required surgery or are in critical condition. Are they not worth mentioning because they're not astronauts? If you're fatally shot do you have to be a judge to deserve mention?

Are we going to learn who those are that died? Their names? Photos? I'm certainly praying for our Congresswoman and all families involved but to have breaking news about this story throughout the day and not show names and/or photos of those that passed is not right, it's just wrong, report the news and report it all CNN and all other news stations that are covering this as it unfolds

Tom - I agree. I know names are withheld until family is notified and with would be terrible to here of a family members death on the news. However I did notice that the names of the congresswoman and the judge were reported immediately after the shooting. Hardly enough time to be sure the families were notified. The others were still not mentioned on the evening news hours laters. Surely enough time to notify. It still seems that some are worthy and others are not.

As soon as I heard the news, I said to my Wife "Watch all the hate and malice come in from the Democrats.". And sure enough, here U all are! Doing what you do best, pointing fingers and spewing hate when you don't even have the facts. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.... you hater libs are the biggest hipocrits on the Planet. Do ya think you could shut up till we find out the facts?? I guess not. Typical libs.

I blame the programs such as Beck, Limbaugh and Oreilly, Hannity and Palin. They are INCITERS to commit violence and hatred in this country. They get the weak and disturbed all fired up with hatred to be the HERO to go out and do these horrible things. I blame them strongly. The KOCH BROTHERS are behind all the groups and people fighting this administration.

I agree completely Joanne, and so does the sheriff leading the investigation. Sarah Pailin had a hit list with this woman on it, she bragged about it. She of course took it down today, which shows she feels guilt. The father of Congresswoman Giffords said today, when asked if his daughter had any enemies "yes, the tea party". I hope you are all proud. This man wasn't a liberal, those talking about his facebook page are lying, there isn't one that can be viewed. Also the sheriff stated the Judge was there by chance, and the "target" was Gabriell Giffords, so that's another lie I've read here, he wasn't the target. As far as the signs someone here said called for Bush's death, didn't anyone do that, is George Bush, happy and doing fine at his ranch. Man up and denouce the violence you leaders try to incite.

There are kooks all across the political spectrum. No one knows what particular comment or action will set them off. What happened to civil dialogue in this country? What has replaced it? I think we all know. We can tune it in or out every day on the radio, or television, or the tabloids. We are closer to anarchy now than we have been since the assassination Spring of 1968 and as there are a lot more of us there are also a lot, and I mean, A LOT, more guns in the hands of the lunatic fringe.

That's correct, only the Right uses rhetoric and vitriol. Nobody on the Left has ever said a "mean thing" about conservatives and they are always the epitome of respect and courtesy during political debates. Let's not even get into the Bush years.... It's all on record from both sides. Calling one side out without acknowledging the Lefts contribution is obscene and delusional.

My best guess,...I think that the authorities will find that Jarrod is so 'disturbed'– that he (Jarrod) was trying to impress Bristol Palin by acting on Sarah Palin's 'target' & 'cross hairs' comments on her website and 'tweets'. Politically motived yes, only to the extent that Jarrod was 'obsessed' with Bristol. Since Sarah Palin has 'put her family–out there', we can expect more such incidents of disturbed individuals doing crazy things to try and impress people in the Palin Family.

You can't be serious!!! There is absolutely no evidence WHATSOEVER linking this disturbed man to any political organization. It's completely unfounded comments like yours that continue the divisiveness found in this country...

Palin targeted Giffords in an ad, placing her in the crosshairs of a gun. A couple of months later, Giffords is shot in the head. Big coincidence there! Palin and her billionaire Koch brothers funders are likely doing victory dances over the shootings....didn't even have to pay a hit man, just managed to incite a total loon to do it!

Joanne ... you are 100% correct and the people commenting that he might have been a liberal are as crazy and theogically blind as the shooter. The only person I can think of that has done this kind of violence who MIGHT have been liberal is John Hinkley, Jr. and I don't know that he was liberal ... I think he shot Reagan to prove his love for Jodie Foster. It's all twisted ... Glenn Beck, Jan Brewer, et al ... Sleep well tonight with the blood of a 9 year old girl's dead body on your hands. It just goes on and on ... when progressives criticized Bush we were told to "respect the president" but now Obama get's posters of him as a Nazi and the Joker from Batman. These people can't be reasoned with.

To Brian, ever here of Lee Harvey Oswald????? If ever there was a lefty her was one. Visited Cuba, the Soviet Union, etc. Please don't show you ignorance on a national website. Saying lefties never do something like this is completely untrue. Ever here of Stalin? Murdered millions of his own people. Real nice guy, big lefty too. So, there are plenty of wackos in the world. left and right. If you're going to speak lies, then you're almost as bad as they are.

Jared Loughner, Alleged Shooter in Gabrielle Giffords Attack, Described by Classmate as "Left-Wing Pothead", by school friends as "a flag burning, radical liberal, atheist, and obsessed with the world ending in 2012".

I think that people really need to stop blaming people who have had nothing to do with the shooting. Marilyn Manson did not cause the Columbine shootings and Palin and Beck didn't cause this one. The people who pulled the triggers are responsible for their own actions. Period. We live in a free society where dialogue is encouraged, even if you disagree with what is being said. I have never heard any of the people tell anyone to go start shooting politicians.

Durb in Ak,
I suggest you read all the hate speak being espoused by the Tea Party/ right wing
haters on this blog to get an answer to your question...
Seriously?? Arrest Palin. Fox news is defending the murders?? Ugly, angry, people...

And you are RIGHT. I hope they can live with themselves. This guy posted we should be using Gold...now where did that come from? This is probably only the beginning. Palin, Beck, FoxNews, Rush they all are inciting violence. Everyone who has been watching the news media has seen this coming. Poor people that got killed and hurt...my prayers goes out to them and their families. The new media knows this disgusing act has to do with the media. The above people Palin, Beck, FoxNews and Rush has been trying to target President Obama every since he has been in office. I also blame the GOP...they back the above people and the tea party movement. This is a shame. The media should put the blame where it go....ALL OF THE ABOVE.

This is actually for Jim 50. He certainly wasn't a left wing loon. Can we at least bury the dead first before we start blaming the ghost of "the left," I suppose you think the communist manifesto led him to be a loony left? what about his peter pan reading, what would that make him, what does his reading schedule have to do with anything. He presumably hated the government because of currency. He is most likely deeply psychopathic, which means he probably knows what he did was wrong, but did it anyway because he has mental problems, however, when you have vitrolic media figures point the finger at politicians for the evils in our world, then I suppose it is possible for psychopathic people to take their deranged anger out on the innocent.

It's disturbing that yourself and the "good" sheriff would immediately place blame for the actions of a disturbed individual on your political enemies. This type of reaction is a desperate attempt to change the subject because you can not compete in the arena of ideas. You and the sheriff are the hate mongers not the majority of Americans.

My heart goes out to the congress woman, the judge, the child, all of the unnamed victims, and their families.

All of us bear some responsibility for the state of our society. We have sat passively while the rhetoric has grown increasingly hate-filled, perhaps shaking our heads while one group of Americans demonized and berated another group of Americans for the "sin" of having differences of opinion and expressing them...two of our most cherished rights. Isn't it time we expect and require civil discourse in our society? Or do we want to become another nest of hate-filled, fratricidal extemists, the very thing we lament in other corners of the world.

We have seen the result of extreme and fanatic media and public figures who only care about their egos, power and money. When people like Limbaugh, Beck, Palin and others like them spout out their intolerant rhetoric and foster cult-like followers, they not only divide this country in a way that is dangerous to the survival of democracy, their rantings are bound to incite the unstable to commit acts of hate and carnage such as today. I'm sure their love of themselves will not allow them to consider it, but Limbaugh, Beck, Palin and others such as them may as well had their fingers on the trigger. The blood of these innocent people is on their hands.

Jim, sounds like you are in the same category of this animal who killed these people. I could not stand Bush, but I never wish him harm. Our president should be respected, because we are the United States. With that said, I would like to beat your ass, and I wouldn't run!

No Kidding. I thought Jan Brewer, the HateMonger, told us that Mexican's were be-heading white's in the AZ desert ... but had no proof. I know Sarah Palin personally from college and I don't think she would want this ... but the Tea Party better wake up and speak out against violence ... but they won't. It's disgraceful.

I am shocked , but not surprised at all –
I am also shocked at the Reublican response – SO this is a wake up call they say, they evidently are just beginning to
realize that this could happen to any of them
I truly hold the Republican right and Tea Party responsible for this senseless shooting
They have for months now by their silence which infers and implies their complete agreement the vitriolic hateful and open threats that have been openly stated by people in their parties. These threats some carried out – by throwing items at Democratic Congressmen as they entered their offices, Bricks, stones and letters mailed to Democratic Congressmen and the posts on blogs and comment sections all across the country. Actually encouraging the discontent and fanning the flames. Limbaugh Beck O Reilly ( and yes, Palin, who has Congressmen names and districts they she personally disagrees with posted with maps on her site) and others on Fox news have for months and months and months encouraged the "" people " to rise up and do something – and on and on and on
I don't see why some of the comments on this post and CNN has not mentioned or made this connection
It is pretty clear to me. and others
I hold them accountable and yet I suspect they will come forward and say something to the effect that this senseless shooting is just the result of the unrest of the populace and they told us so. They won't take any responsibility for it all all and it sickens me to the core

You are absolutely right Ann...now the republicans are postponing voting against the health care bill because they know in their hearts that they are indirectly responsible for this terrible tradgedy...They are trying to distance themselves from this incident, but you cannot preach hate and revenge and not realize that there are going to be some unstable people who will try to act out these thoughts...The tea party needs to be outlawed as they are just a bunch of hate mongers being led by the likes of Sarah Palin,Glen Beck,Rush Limbaugh, Faux news with a nod from the republican party....

Funny how all the far lefties here take a sick opportunity like this to blast conservatives. Remember all the Bush hate a few years back? How dare Conservatives speak up against the radical left's attempt to remake this country! This reminds me of the Kennedy assassination when all the liberals claimed it was a right wing "climate of hate" in Dallas that was responsible. Then come to find out the assassin was a Communist, ex-defector to the Soviet Union who supported Fidel Castro.

Oh please Ann,
Get off your condescending high horse and just try to allow an original thought into your head. Both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of the vitriol and when you write the drivel espoused here you just continue to be part of the problem.

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